Five Cases of Sexual Assault Following Festival Weekend

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Five Cases of Sexual Assault Following Festival Weekend

Five women sought help at centers for emergency services for victims of sexual abuse after or during Verslunarmannahelgi (the Merchant’s Weekend). In only one of these cases has the victim brought charges against the alleged perpetrator, ruv.is reports.

The reported incidences occurred in Akureyri, Vestmannaeyjar (the Westman Islands), Selfoss, Flúðir and Reykjavík. The one that occurred at Akureyri is the only one out of these cases where charges have been brought and which is currently being investigated by police.

Guðrún Jónsdóttir, spokeswoman for Stígamót, an organization which provides support for victims of sexual abuse, said in an interview with RÚV earlier this week that it was usually not clear how the Merchant’s Weekend had truly gone until some time had passed.

Earlier reports of the weekend indicated that it had gone very well, with no serious car crashes or other accidents reported, nor any cases of sexual misconduct or assault.

The first cases surfaced on Tuesday when two separate incidences of sexual misconduct where reported by the police in Selfoss. One occurred in a public bathroom and the other in a private home. Victims in both cases have brought charges against their alleged assailants.